Electronic device

ABSTRACT

An electronic device includes a host, a display, a sliding plate, and a keyboard. The host has an operating surface. The display is pivoted to the host. The sliding plate is slidably disposed in the host, where the display is mechanically coupled to the sliding plate, and the sliding plate includes a plat portion and a recess portion that are arranged side by side. The keyboard is integrated to the host. The keyboard includes a key structure, where the key structure includes a key cap and a reciprocating element, and the key cap is exposed from the operating surface of the host. The reciprocating element is disposed between the key cap and the sliding plate and has a first end connected to the key cap and a second end contacting the sliding plate. The second end is located on a sliding path of the plat portion and the recess portion.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation application of and claims thepriority benefit of U.S. application Ser. No. 17/541,257, filed on Dec.3, 2021, now allowed, which claims the priority benefit of U.S.application Ser. No. 17/072,050, filed on Oct. 16, 2020, now U.S. Pat.No. 11,226,659, which claims the priority benefit of Taiwan applicationserial no. 109101606, filed on Jan. 16, 2020. The entirety of each ofthe above-mentioned patent applications is hereby incorporated byreference herein and made a part of this specification.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 1. Field of the Disclosure

The disclosure relates to an electronic device, and in particular, to anelectronic device including a keyboard.

2. Description of Related Art

As a common physical input interface, a keyboard is used by a user toinput information to an electronic device, or operate an electronicdevice. By using a notebook computer as an example, the notebookcomputer includes a host, a keyboard integrated to the host, and adisplay. The display is pivoted to the host, and configured to open orclose relative to the host. On the other hand, the keyboard includes akey structure, and a key cap of the key structure is exposed from anoperating surface of the host (that is, a surface that is in the hostand faces the display).

Generally, the key cap of the key structure has a pressing surface forthe user to press, and the key cap is mostly designed to be aligned withthe operating surface of the host, or designed to be slightly lower thanthe operating surface of the host, to prevent the key structure frombeing squeezed by the display covering the operating surface of thehost. However, the foregoing design may reduce a pressing stroke of thekey structure, resulting in the problem of poor sense of touch duringoperation.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

The disclosure provides an electronic device, which can improveoperation experience of a user, and improve service life of a product.

The disclosure provides an electronic device, including a host, adisplay, a sliding plate, and a keyboard. The host has an operatingsurface. The display is pivoted to the host. The sliding plate isslidably disposed in the host, where the display is mechanically coupledto the sliding plate, and the sliding plate includes a plat portion anda recess portion that are arranged side by side. The keyboard isintegrated to the host. The keyboard includes a key structure, where thekey structure includes a key cap and a reciprocating element, and thekey cap is exposed from the operating surface of the host. Thereciprocating element is disposed between the key cap and the slidingplate and has a first end and a second end. The first end is connectedto the key cap, and the second end contacts the sliding plate. Thesecond end is located on a sliding path of the plat portion and therecess portion.

Based on the foregoing, in the electronic device of the disclosure, withopening or closing of the display relative to the host, a height of thekey cap of the key structure changes. Furthermore, when the display isopened relative to the host, the key cap of the key structure is higherthan the operating surface of the host. Therefore, a sufficient pressingstroke can be provided for a user, to improve operation experience ofthe user. On the contrary, when the display covers the operating surfaceof the host, the key cap of the key structure is lower than theoperating surface of the host. Therefore, the key structure can beprevented from being squeezed by the display covering the operatingsurface of the host, thereby improving the service life of the product.

In order to make the foregoing features and advantages of the disclosuremore comprehensible, embodiments are hereinafter described in detailwith reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a schematic diagram of an electronic device in an openingstate according an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 1B is a schematic partial cross-sectional view of the electronicdevice of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 2A is a schematic diagram of an electronic device in a closed stateaccording an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2B is a schematic partial cross-sectional view of the electronicdevice of FIG. 2A.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1A is a schematic diagram of an electronic device in an openingstate according an embodiment of the disclosure. FIG. 1B is a schematicpartial cross-sectional view of the electronic device of FIG. 1A. FIG.2A is a schematic diagram of an electronic device in a closed stateaccording an embodiment of the disclosure. FIG. 2B is a schematicpartial cross-sectional view of the electronic device of FIG. 2A. Firstreferring to FIG. 1A and FIG. 2A, in the present embodiment, anelectronic device 100 may be a notebook computer, and includes a host110 and a display 120. The display 120 is pivoted to the host 110, andis configured to open relative to the host 110, or cover the host 110.

Referring to FIG. 1A, FIG. 1B, and FIG. 2B, the electronic device 100further includes a sliding plate 130 and a keyboard 140, the slidingplate 130 is slidably disposed in the host 110, and the display 120 ismechanically coupled to the sliding plate 130. In an opening or closingprocess of the display 120 relative to the host 110, the sliding plate130 is driven by the display 120 to slide back and forth relative to thehost 110 along a specific direction. The keyboard 140 is integrated tothe host 110 and includes a key structure 140 a, and there are aplurality of key structures 140 a.

Specifically, the key structure 140 a includes a key cap 141 and areciprocating element 142, the host 110 has an operating surface 111,and the key cap 141 is exposed from the operating surface 111 for a userto operate the key structure 140 a. The reciprocating element 142 isdisposed between the key cap 141 and the sliding plate 130 andconfigured to support the key cap 141 and provide a reset force for thekey cap 141. Furthermore, the reciprocating element 142 may include afirst end 142 a and a second end 142 b, the first end 142 a is connectedto the key cap 141, and the second end 142 b contacts the sliding plate130.

For example, the reciprocating element 142 may include a spring and atelescopic cover, the spring is disposed in the telescopic cover, oneend of the telescopic cover is connected to key cap 141, and the otherend of the telescopic cover contacts the sliding plate 130. On the otherhand, one end of the spring contacts the key cap 141, and the other endof the spring contacts a bottom part of the telescopic cover.

In the present embodiment, the sliding plate 130 includes a plat portion131 and a recess portion 132 that are arranged side by side, there maybe a plurality of recess portions 132, and the quantity of the recessportions 132 is equal to the quantity of the key structures 140 a.Specifically, the reciprocating element 142 is located on a sliding pathof the plat portion 131 and the recess portion 132. As shown in FIG. 1B,when the display 120 is opened relative to the host 110, thereciprocating element 142 contacts the plat portion 131, and the key cap141 is higher than the operating surface 111. Therefore, a sufficientpressing stroke can be provided for the user, thereby improvingoperation experience of the user.

As shown in FIG. 2B, when the display 120 covers the operating surface111 of the host 110, the sliding plate 130 slides to make the second end142 b of the reciprocating element 142 move away from the plat portion131 and move into the recess portion 132. At the same time, the key cap141 sinks along with the reciprocating element 142 to make the key cap141 be lower than the operating surface 111. Therefore, the keystructure 140 a can be prevented from being squeezed by the display 120covering the operating surface 111 of the host 110, thereby improvingthe service life of the product.

In particular, a direction in which the key cap 141 sinks along with thereciprocating element 142 is perpendicular to a sliding direction of thesliding plate 130.

Referring to FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B, in the present embodiment, theelectronic device 100 further includes a rotating shaft 150, and thedisplay 120 is pivoted to the host 110 by using the rotating shaft 150.In detail, the rotating shaft 150 includes a driving portion 151 locatedin the host 110, and the driving portion 151 is mechanically coupled tothe sliding plate 130. On the other hand, the sliding plate 130 furtherincludes a driven portion 133 close to the rotating shaft 150, and thedriving portion 151 is mechanically coupled to the driven portion 133.For example, the driving portion 151 is a gear, and the driven portion133 is a rack meshed with the gear 151. In the opening or closingprocess of the display 120 relative to the host 110, the driving portion151 rotates relative to the host 110 and drives the rack to make thesliding plate 130 slide.

Referring to FIG. 1B and FIG. 2B, the recess portion 132 has a chamfer132 a and a bottom surface 132 b connected to the chamfer 132 a, and thechamfer 132 a is connected to the plat portion 131. When the slidingplate 130 slides, the second end 142 b of the reciprocating element 142moves from the plat portion 131 to pass through the chamfer 132 a, andstops moving after contacting the bottom surface 132 b. Alternatively,when the sliding plate 130 slides, the second end 142 b of thereciprocating element 142 moves from the bottom surface 132 b to passthrough the chamfer 132 a, and stops moving after contacting the platportion 131.

A height difference exists between the plat portion 131 and the bottomsurface 132 b of the recess portion 132. Therefore, a height of the keycap 141 changes as the second end 142 b of the reciprocating element 142contacts the plat portion 131 or contacts the bottom surface 132 b ofthe recess portion 132. On the other hand, the plat portion 131 isparallel to the bottom surface 132 b of the recess portion 132, to avoidskew between the key cap 141 and the reciprocating element 142.

In the present embodiment, the keyboard 140 further includes a carrier143 fixed in the host 110, and the carrier 143 is disposed on thesliding plate 130. In other words, in the opening or closing process ofthe display 120 relative to the host 110, the carrier 143 is fixed, butthe sliding plate 130 slides relative to the carrier 143. On the otherhand, the key cap 141 is disposed above the carrier 143, the carrier 143has a through hole 143 a, and the second end 142 b of the reciprocatingelement 142 penetrates through the through hole 143 a to contact thesliding plate 130. The quantity of through holes 143 a of the carrier143 is equal to the quantity of the key structures 140 a.

The key structure 140 a further includes a scissor mechanism 144, andthe scissor mechanism 144 is disposed between the key cap 141 and thecarrier 143, and is configured to stabilize a moving direction of thekey cap 141 when being pressed, or a moving direction of the key cap 141when being reset. On the other hand, two ends of the scissor mechanism144 respectively contact the key cap 141 and the carrier 143. Based onguidance of the scissor mechanism 144, the moving direction of the keycap 141 is perpendicular to the sliding direction of the sliding plate130.

In conclusion, in the electronic device of the disclosure, with openingor closing of the display relative to the host, the height of the keycap of the key structure changes. Furthermore, when the display expandsrelative to the host, the key cap of the key structure is higher thanthe operating surface of the host. Therefore, sufficient pressing strokecan be provided for the user, thereby improving operation experience ofthe user. On the contrary, when the display covers the operating surfaceof the host, the key cap of the key structure is lower than theoperating surface of the host. Therefore, the key structure can beprevented from being squeezed by the display covering the operatingsurface of the host, thereby improving the service life of the product.

Although the disclosure has been disclosed as above with theembodiments, the embodiments are not intended to limit the disclosure. Aperson with ordinary knowledge in the technical field can make somechanges and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe disclosure. Therefore, the protection scope of the disclosure shallbe subject to the attached claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An electronic device, comprising: a host; adisplay, pivoted to the host; a sliding plate, slidably disposed in thehost, wherein the display is mechanically coupled to the sliding plate,and the sliding plate comprises a plat portion and a recess portion thatare arranged side by side; and a keyboard, integrated to the host, andcomprising a key structure, wherein the key structure comprises a keycap and a reciprocating element connected to the key cap, and thereciprocating element is disposed between the key cap and the slidingplate, wherein the reciprocating element contacts one of the platportion and the recess portion during the sliding plate sliding relativeto the host, and a height of the keycap varies with the sliding platesliding relative to the host.
 2. The electronic device according toclaim 1, further comprising: a rotating shaft, wherein the display ispivoted to the host by using the rotating shaft, the rotating shaftcomprises a driving portion located in the host, and the driving portionis mechanically coupled to the sliding plate.
 3. The electronic deviceaccording to claim 2, wherein the sliding plate further comprises adriven portion close to the rotating shaft, and the driving portion ismechanically coupled to the driven portion.
 4. The electronic deviceaccording to claim 3, wherein the driving portion is a gear, and thedriven portion is a rack meshed with the gear.
 5. The electronic deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the recess portion comprises a chamfer anda bottom surface connected to the chamfer, and the chamfer is connectedto the plat portion.
 6. The electronic device according to claim 5,wherein a height difference exists between the plat portion and thebottom surface of the recess portion, and the plat portion is parallelto the bottom surface of the recess portion.
 7. The electronic deviceaccording to claim 5, wherein the height of the key cap while thereciprocating element contacts the plat portion is higher than a heightof the key cap while the reciprocating element contacts the bottomsurface of the recess portion.
 8. The electronic device according toclaim 1, wherein the keyboard further comprises a carrier that is fixedin the host and disposed on the sliding plate, the key cap is disposedabove the carrier, the carrier is provided with a through hole, and thereciprocating element penetrates through the through hole to contact thesliding plate.
 9. The electronic device according to claim 8, whereinthe key structure further comprises a scissor mechanism, and the scissormechanism is disposed between the key cap and the carrier.
 10. Theelectronic device according to claim 1, wherein the reciprocatingelement comprises a spring and a telescopic cover, and the spring isdisposed in the telescopic cover, one end of the telescopic cover isconnected to the key cap, and another end of the telescopic covercontacts the sliding plate.
 11. The electronic device according to claim10, wherein one end of the spring contacts the key cap, and another endof the spring contacts a bottom part of the telescopic cover.
 12. Anelectronic device, comprising: a host; a display, pivoted to the host; asliding plate, slidably disposed in the host, wherein the display ismechanically coupled to the sliding plate, and the sliding platecomprises two portions having a height difference therebetween; and akey structure, integrated to the host and contacts the sliding plate,during the sliding plate driven by the display and sliding relative tothe host, the key structure moves from one of the two portions of thesliding plate to the other one of the two portions of the sliding plateto sink or raise.
 13. The electronic device according to claim 12,wherein the key structure has an end exposed from an operating surfaceof the host, the end of the key structure becomes to be lower than theoperating surface during the key structure sinking and becomes to behigher than the operating surface during the key structure raising. 14.The electronic device according to claim 12, wherein a direction inwhich the key structure sink or raise is perpendicular to a slidingdirection of the sliding plate.